The original concept design from Shot Show 2024 was SO much better. It looked sleek, looked functional, had promise. Which is why I voted for it
Now it looks like a bloated fish with lame “AK” cosmetics. They serve no function, but make it look un-natural. It uses the AK 3.5 rear hinge and requires you to depress a button for take down!
Why? Adding uneeded stuff just for esthetics no one was asking for is silly. And adds to the overall cost of manufacturing.
Also making its side charging again adds a giant opening on the receiver for dirt/mud or debris to get in. The original was sleek and contained. Silly to have changed that.
Changes were made based on post-SHOT and post-NRA show suggestions from folks like yourself. It may not be for everyone, but it refreshing to have a company actually listen to their customers.
I don’t have any additional information, but These look like functional changes. It looks like the new version has a dust cover release button like on an AK. So could it have been to make it function better or more reliably?
Personally I can see your point. The VUK in its current form isn’t even remotely interesting to me. It’s like an uglier, bulkier, unnecessary JAKL. I’m really not sure what their goal was here to begin with, but I agree the initial concept looks cleaner. The changes probably are functional in nature, but the sacrifice to aesthetics leaves one very unappealing gun.
from what i understand PSA said they had listened to many of the AK fanbase and they had asked for these changes to make it more ak19 ish. I personally didnt know PSA was wanting to make the VUK an AK19 clone, instead of its own thing, but evidentially they do as they’re changing it to be much more like that.
The changes they made asthetically have made it go from a must have to the bottom of the well i guess i can get one since i dont have anything else out there i want to buy at this time item. basically bottom of the barrel of desires. if it was in 762x39 it may be a little higher, but again thats not the ak19… so oh well.
The original looked way better and probably lighter. The xy stamping on the new one is dumb. I thought about buying the old one but I absolutely won’t buy this new abomination.
Supposedly its still in the prototype stage. So maybe they’ll come to their senses and make some revisions back. But until then, cant say im interested
What is the desired use of the VUK to you guys? I just don’t see where this fills a gap that current firearms don’t already address with more commonly available parts for repairs. The Jackl fills a smaller more compact personal defense weapon.
I don’t think I would get one other than just an addition to the collection. I love my AKs but I’m not a huge AK guy. Maybe they are going for that demographic?
I like both the AK and AR and have multiples of each. To me the AK and AR philosophy of use is different and when I would use one over the other depended on the situation at hand. I still need to pick up a Jackl in 300 bo.
i tell ya, i dont like the looks of it. theyve said they are making it look more like the ak19, it uses AK buttstocks now, and that hard core ak folks wanted these changes and had suggested these changes, and this is what the majority wants, but personally i dont want an ak that shoots 5.56, I dont want one that uses a AR fire control group just for sheets and giggles, it was one thing when it was almost a jakl, but now its just hideous. suchs is my thoughts.
While i like the looks of the original (2024) proto and voted for it I do like the looks of the 2025 version even more. The lower looks better. The lower sights look better. I can go either way with the charging handle but if this is supposed to be the modern AK then it should be as modern as possible. The new (coming) Jakl 2.0 ambi charging handle placement looks to be an awesome option.
I do agree that the gimmicky X & Y, magwell dimples, and “top cover” button should be left off. If not necessary don’t add it. If they can mill out for dimples then mill more to reduce weight.
Overall i do like the look of the newer version more (without the gimmicks).
